Hagbah and Gelila: Difference between revisions

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<p class="indent">Those honored with hagba and gelila on weekdays should first remove their tefillin straps from their hands. This is both for comfort as well as to avoid having an interposition between one’s hands and the Torah. It is also intended to show reverence for the tefillin straps.<ref>Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:7.</ref> There are a number of customs as to where the Torah’s belt should be positioned. Some place it on the upper third of the scroll,<ref>Beit Avi 4:15:6.</ref> others on the lower third,<ref>Minhag Chabad.</ref> and some position it right in the center of the scroll. There is no halachic preference.<ref>Maharshag 2:4:2; Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:8. See Chikrei Minhagim (Gurary ), vol. 1, pp. 83–86, and Otzar Teshuva 95 for more on this issue.</ref>  

</p><p class="indent">The Torah is closed by rolling together the atzei chaim, the handles. One should be sure to position the right eitz chaim above the left one.<ref>Yesodei Yeshurun, vol. 2, p. 257; See Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:13 for much more on this issue.</ref> If there is a need to maneuver or adjust the parchment of the Torah scroll one should not do so with his bare hands. Rather, one should touch the scroll with the assistance of a tallit or other cloth in order that one’s hands do not directly touch the parchment.<ref>Mishna Berura 147:2.</ref> All other scrolls, however, such as a Megillat Esther, may be touched directly with one’s hands as long as they are clean.<ref>Rama, OC 147:1; Biur Halacha 147, s.v. “V’tov.”</ref>

</p><p class="indent">It is best that a father and son or two brothers not be awarded hagba and gelila together, just as they should not be awarded any two aliyot in succession.<ref>Mishneh Halachot 3:20.</ref> However, if necessary, it is permitted to do so in a congregation where those honored with hagba and gelila are not called up by name.<ref>Avnei Chefetz 16; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:16.</ref> It is permitted to forgo hagba in a situation where there is a concern that the Torah might drop, such as when on a bus, plane, or train, or if the Torah is exceptionally heavy. In such a situation the Torah should simply be wrapped up and dressed immediately following the reading.<ref>Birkei Yosef (Shiyurei Bracha), OC 134; Yesodei Yeshurun, vol. 2, p. 255; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:9.</ref> It is interesting to note that there were communities in the past where hagba was never performed.<ref>Birkei Yosef, OC 134.</ref> Every congregation should ensure that the Torah wrappings and ornaments are especially clean and dignified. One should not use such accessories if they are ripped or stained.<ref>Rema, OC 147:1.</ref>

</p><p class="indent">The one who performs gelila should not tie the Torah’s belt in an especially strong or permanent type of knot. Doing so would pose a halachic problem on Shabbat, as one is not permitted to untie a permanent type of knot on Shabbat.<ref>See Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:19 at length.</ref> It goes without saying that when performing gelila on Shabbat one may not make a permanent knot. Instead, one should tie the belt with a bow on top of a single knot as is done when tying shoes, a lone bow, or simply to wrap the belt around the Torah and tuck in the ends.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan, OC 317:10; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 15, n. 178; Tzitz Eliezer 7:29; Minchat Shabbat 80:155. </ref> Velcro Torah belts, or those whose ends clip into one another, are ideal and pose no halachic concerns.<ref>Rivevot V’yovlot 2:458.</ref> The one honored with reading the Haftorah should wait until gelila is completed before beginning the preliminary blessings.<ref>OC 147:7; Birkei Yosef 147; Mishna Berura 147:23; Kaf Hachaim, OC 147:40.</ref>

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